❓ Hon Simon O'Brien asks the Minister for Housing and Works about supporting a reconciliation ceremony at the Heathcote Hospital site. Hon Tom Stephens expresses support for reconciliation but cautions against conflating it with planning issues at the site.
AnsweredQoN 729Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the eastern portion of the Heathcote Hospital site, generally referred to as the lower land, and to the proposal by the member for Alfred Cove that that location be the venue for a reconciliation and healing ceremony. Does the minister support the idea of a reconciliation and healing ceremony on that site, and what does he think would be the benefits of such a ceremony; and if the minister does not support this idea, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I was not aware of the proposal to have a reconciliation ceremony on that site. I am in favour of reconciliation. However, it would be wise for people genuinely interested in reconciliation not to try to tangle it up in their pursuit of other issues. Reconciliation in our nation and State is a serious challenge. The challenge of sorting out the planning issues associated with Heathcote are probably not wisely tangled up in the reconciliation needs of this community.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I was not aware of the proposal to have a reconciliation ceremony on that site. I am in favour of reconciliation. However, it would be wise for people genuinely interested in reconciliation not to try to tangle it up in their pursuit of other issues. Reconciliation in our nation and State is a serious challenge. The challenge of sorting out the planning issues associated with Heathcote are probably not wisely tangled up in the reconciliation needs of this community.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I was not aware of the proposal to have a reconciliation ceremony on that site. I am in favour of reconciliation. However, it would be wise for people genuinely interested in reconciliation not to try to tangle it up in their pursuit of other issues. Reconciliation in our nation and State is a serious challenge. The challenge of sorting out the planning issues associated with Heathcote are probably not wisely tangled up in the reconciliation needs of this community.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I was not aware of the proposal to have a reconciliation ceremony on that site. I am in favour of reconciliation. However, it would be wise for people genuinely interested in reconciliation not to try to tangle it up in their pursuit of other issues. Reconciliation in our nation and State is a serious challenge. The challenge of sorting out the planning issues associated with Heathcote are probably not wisely tangled up in the reconciliation needs of this community.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I was not aware of the proposal to have a reconciliation ceremony on that site. I am in favour of reconciliation. However, it would be wise for people genuinely interested in reconciliation not to try to tangle it up in their pursuit of other issues. Reconciliation in our nation and State is a serious challenge. The challenge of sorting out the planning issues associated with Heathcote are probably not wisely tangled up in the reconciliation needs of this community.
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